Pendleton Cowboy Jack Sweek

Pendleton cowboy Jack Sweek - One memory, framed in silverJack Sweek was never much of a rodeo cowboy. But in1958, he won a belt buckle roping calves in the pro rodeo at Milton Freewater. Its the only buckle Sweek ever won. Now, challenged by illness and age, the buckle represents a moment in Sweek's life when he was everything he ever hoped to be.

Oregonian multimedia journalist Jamie Francis met Jack Sweek at the 100th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-Up in 2010. While Francis was making pictures of him, Sweek shared the story of the belt buckle he was wearing. It was the only one he ever won, back in 1958 and he wore it proudly ever since. Francis knew there was more of a story behind that belt buckle, but he did not have time to tell it last year –covering the Round-Up was taking up all of his time.

He kept in touch with Sweek and his family over the next year. In August, Francis had an opportunity to get out to Eastern Oregon for a variety of assignments and visited Sweek along the way.

Francis told the story of Sweek's belt buckle in video and words. "The buckle has always been more than just a piece of hardware to Jack," writes Francis, "It represents a moment in his life when he was everything he hoped he could be. He hopes each of us has a similar moment we can hang a few memories on. He has worn his memory for more than 50 years and counting."